Are you a man approaching age 50? Know that your doctor will want you to begin routine prostate cancer screening. At Urology Specialists of Milford, board-certified urologist, Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg, checks numerous Milford, MA, male patients for signs of prostate cancer and also provides innovative diagnostic testing and treatment.
What is the prostate?
It's the walnut-sized organ surrounding the urethra in the male urinary tract. Responsible for semen production, the prostate tends to enlarge with middle-age. This condition is called Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, or BPH.
BPH is not prostate cancer. However, the incidence of malignancy in the prostate increases coincidentally in older men with enlarged prostates.
What is prostate cancer?
The prostate is a site for malignancy within the capsule of the organ itself. Unfortunately, the cancer can spread—albeit slowly—outside the prostate to other areas of the body.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says that 13 percent of American men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis in their lifetimes. Two to three percent of that number will die from this cancer. That's why routine screening is so important.
Diagnosis of prostate cancer
To screen for prostate cancer, your Milford urologist uses two tests. One is the digital rectal exam, or DRE, a quick palpation of the prostate through the rectum. Additionally, Dr. Steinberg uses the Prostate Specific Antigen test, or PSA, a simple blood test that detects the markers for prostate cancer.
Risk factors
Age is the biggest risk, along with ethnicity. The CDC states that African-American men are more prone to develop this cancer. Additionally, smoking, diet, and heredity factor into the diagnosis.
Symptoms
Symptoms vary widely. In fact, many men exhibit no symptoms. However, you should inform your urologist if you display the following:
- Weak or interrupted urine flow
- Painful ejaculation
- Blood in urine or semen
- Frequent urination at night
- Urine retention after voiding
Treating prostate cancer
Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg is a prostate cancer expert, making available the latest in treatment techniques. To refine your diagnosis and your treatment plan, Dr. Steinberg may use:
- A complete medical history and physical exam
- A 4K score, a blood test which predicts future spread of the disease after treatment and a negative biopsy
- Prostate MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
- Transrectal ultrasound biopsy
- Genetic marker testing after a positive biopsy
You can conquer prostate cancer
Urology Specialists of Milford will partner with you in overcoming this disease. If it's time for your routine screening, or you have a concern about your urinary tract health, please contact your Milford, MA, urologist, Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg, for an appointment. Phone (508) 473-6333 today.